Cooking fire breaks out at Columbia Fire station

A Columbia fire station sustained about $20,000 in damages after a firefighter left a pot on a stove Monday afternoon.

The fire broke out in the kitchen of Fire Station No. 1, on Laurel Street, about 6:30 p.m., shortly after crews from the station responded to separate incidents. The station’s sprinklers contained the fire to the area around the stove and a cabinet above until firefihters returned to douse the flames.

Most of the damages to the station can be attributed to water from the sprinklers, according to the fire department. Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said the fire only underscores how important it is to not leave cooking food unattended.

“This is an example of how cooking fires can occur anywhere and to anyone, that's why it is so important to never leave cooking food unattended," he said.